ADDIS ABABA, April 18 (Reuters) – A blast in western Ethiopia has killed three people and wounded 37 others, state-run television said on Tuesday.

It said the blast occurred on Saturday, a busy market day, in the town of Gedo 150 kms (93 miles) west of the capital Addis Ababa.

The giant Horn of Africa country has been hit by a series of explosions in recent months in what police have said is an attempt by unknown culprits to destabilise the country of 72 million.

Three blasts rocked Addis Ababa last month, injuring at least four people and in January several public buildings and hotels in the capital were damaged by explosive devices.

In February, the Federal Police Anti-Terrorism Taskforce issued a statement saying it had foiled a plot to “unleash armed urban terrorism” by a group linked to the main opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD).

Tensions have grown since the CUD contested the results of last May’s parliamentary poll, resulting in violent clashes that left more than 80 people dead.

Hunger strike in Wolkitte, Ethnic cleansing in Gedo

WOLKITTE, Central Ethiopia – Fifty-one elected members of the opposition Kinijit in this town of Guraghe Zone have gone on a hunger strike to protest their detention without trial for several months. Activists say no charges have been made by the government which carried out nationwide arrests following the May 15, 2005 polls in which Kinijit and Hibret opposition parties scored significant successes over the incumbent party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Meanwhile, government-supported Gedo mobs have destroyed property and dislocated residents from Dilla, Bulle, Yirgachefe, and Fisehagenet
towns.

A source warns a government-backed Gedo uprising was targetting Amhara and Guraghe populations in the area. “Houses and business quarters are destroyed by Gedo mobs being supported by the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi,” the source said.

“The unarmed and helpless Amhara and Gurage people are under death
warranty, without any means of protection. Bulle town, for instance, was a total destruction. We don’t know about how many deaths but people have fled their homes to save their lives,” the source reported. (Ethiomedia)